UEFA have just announced the seeding of the 16 teams that will be plucked from the perspex goldfish bowls of doom in Kiev on December 2nd, and they look a little bit like this…

Top seeds: Spain, Holland, Poland, Ukraine

Second seeds: Germany, England, Russia, Italy

Third seeds: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden

Fourth seeds: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland

Lawdamussy. Thanks to UEFA’s ranking-based seeding system, it looks like we’re due at least one good, old-fashioned ‘Group of Death’ in a fortnight’s time – Spain/Germany/Portugal/France anybody?

As for England, you’d have to suggest that being pulled out with Poland, Greece and (arguably) the Czech Rep would represent the kindest possible draw – though there’s a real threat of getting saddled with Spain, Portugal and France. At least we’d be going into the tournament with a ready-made excuse.

What’s more, with Ireland being placed in the fourth pot, it looks like they’re likely to be handed a stinker of a group ahead of their first outing at a European Championships for 23 years to boot.

What’s this with the Group B predictions for England! Why Group B? Are we more likely to be in the first half than the second or is it pure, old fashioned speculation? My trip to Poland is better placed for Group C and D!

Why is Germany in the second seed? im confused they qualified first, the beat holland what justifies The Germans as not being 1st seed material? and if its ranking based fifa is bat shite crazy if they think the dutch are a better team than the germans